My Take:
Happy hour is half off everything. Quite the draw: not many places have the same amount of bodies at 6 o’clock as at midnight, but Bar Soho may come pretty close. At happy hour, nineties musical accompaniment is blasted over a buzzing crowd, and the atmosphere is just grungy enough to make this place not feel like too much of a tourist trap. It’s not the place to come if you want to have a proper conversation, but it is the place to let loose after a workday. Dance parties before nine? Totally acceptable here.
The Scene:
In the summer, Bar Soho throws its doors wide open into the street, spilling its subjects onto the street. The bar accordingly feels a lot smaller in winter, where bodies are crammed in a space split between high booths, lounge chairs and small tables, and plenty of nooks for those feeling particularly amorous—or just desperate to get away from the loud music.
Cocktails &amp; Cuisine: There are platters for the snackers and burgers for the ravenous to complement an impressive cocktail and wine list.
Prices: During un-happy hour, cocktail jugs are £17-20, cocktails £7.50-9, glasses of wine £4-7, Burgers £7-9, platters £10
What to Wear: To fit in with the slick crowd, dig out your business casual attire in blacks and reds.
Insider Info/When to go: Soho’s Porn Star Martini is a monolith concoction of vodka, passion fruit and Prosecco. Said to serve three, it clocks in at £20 and will have you set for the night. Happy hour makes this bad boy £10…which can be dangerous if you’re not careful.